HEALTH REPORT - India, Nepal Fight Outbreak of Japanese Ence

HEALTH REPORT - India, Nepal Fight Outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis
By Cynthia Kirk

Broadcast: Wednesday, September 14, 2005

I'm Jim Tedder¹ with the VOA Special English Health Report.

 
A young victim is treated in Gorakhpurap, India
Japanese encephalitis is a disease that can cause brain damage and, in some cases, death. But it can also be prevented with a vaccine².

Japanese encephalitis is caused by a virus that infects the central nervous system. The virus is spread by infected mosquitoes, usually in rice-growing and pig-farming areas of Asia. Mosquitoes pick up the virus when they bite infected pigs and wild birds. Then the insects pass the virus to people and animals. Experts say the virus is not passed between people.

Most people who are infected with the virus develop mild effects or none at all. But it can progress to an infection of the brain. Signs include a high body temperature, head pain, seizures³ and vomiting⁴. Victims may also not be able to think clearly.

A recent outbreak of Japanese encephalitis has killed more than six hundred people in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. Most of the victims were children. The disease has spread to areas including the state capital, Lucknow.

Vaccinations⁵ can protect people against Japanese encephalitis. Uttar Pradesh officials say they do not have enough money for the medicine. They have appealed for help from the federal government and the World Health Organization. The Associated Press reported Monday that India's health minister said more than twenty million children will be vaccinated⁶.

The disease has also spread across the border to Nepal. The Associated Press said Nepal has had more than one hundred seventy deaths.

The World Health Organization says about fifty thousand cases of Japanese encephalitis are reported each year. These result in about fifteen thousand deaths. Other victims are left with serious brain damage, including loss of movement.

Experts say most of those infected with Japanese encephalitis are children up to fifteen years old. Doctors identify the disease through blood tests and test of fluid from the spinal⁷ cord. There is no cure. Antibiotics⁸ do not work against viruses. And no effective anti-viral drugs have been discovered against Japanese encephalitis.

United States health officials say major outbreaks in the past have hit China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and other areas. Cambodia, India, Nepal, Malaysia and Vietnam are among countries that still have outbreaks from time to time.

This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Cynthia Kirk. I'm Jim Tedder.

1 tedder   

n.（干草）翻晒者，翻晒机

参考例句：

• Jim Tedder has more. 吉姆？特德将给我们做更多的介绍。 来自互联网
• Jim Tedder tells us more. 吉姆？泰德给我们带来更详细的报道。 来自互联网

2 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

3 seizures   

n.起获( seizure的名词复数 )；没收；充公；起获的赃物

参考例句：

• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year. 今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Other causes of unconsciousness predisposing to aspiration lung abscess are convulsive seizures. 造成吸入性肺脓肿昏迷的其他原因，有惊厥发作。 来自辞典例句

4 vomiting   

吐

参考例句：

• Symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting. 症状有腹泻和呕吐。
• Especially when I feel seasick, I can't stand watching someone else vomiting." 尤其晕船的时候，看不得人家呕。”

5 vaccinations   

n.种痘，接种( vaccination的名词复数 )；牛痘疤

参考例句：

• Vaccinations ensure one against diseases. 接种疫苗可以预防疾病。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I read some publicity about vaccinations while waiting my turn at the doctor's. 在医生那儿候诊时，我读了一些关于接种疫苗的宣传。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

7 spinal   

adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的

参考例句：

• After three days in Japan,the spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible.在日本三天，就已经使脊椎骨变得富有弹性了。
• Your spinal column is made up of 24 movable vertebrae.你的脊柱由24个活动的脊椎骨构成。

8 antibiotics   

n.（用作复数）抗生素；（用作单数）抗生物质的研究；抗生素，抗菌素( antibiotic的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century 20世纪抗生素的发现
• The doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics. 医生给我开了抗生素。